Pilgerfahrten

‘Pilgerfahrten is a whole-evening composition for a large children choir and an ensemble of 20 players. It is a virtual, abstract theatre of sound which emerges from the meeting of two texts: a poem, Pilgerfahrten, by Stefan George (first 2 parts: Aufschrift and Mühle, lass die Arme still), from the year 1891, and the story Das Geheimnis der Hatifnatten by Tove Jansson from the year 1962. The two texts are used simultaneously for most of the piece.’ (Chaya Czernowin)
The piece was written for the Kreuzchor in Dresden. The composer spent an extended time with the choir, and in this process she learnt to know the children and their exceptional capacities. This resulted in what is probably one of the most challenging pieces ever written for a children’s choir, both musically and technically.